MECHTRON 299 : Workshop Practice
Engineering
2024 Semester One (1243) (0 POINTS)
Course Overview
- Introduction and pre-inductions: Introduction to the course, the project, and the workshop spaces and staff are conducted online via Canvas. Pre-induction modules must be completed before attending the in-person induction for each workshop space (as below).
- Digital Tools sessions: Students learn 3D printing, laser cutting, and circuit board soldering during in-person induction sessions in each of the relevant MDLS workshop spaces (on City campus). They must then use what they've learned to produce components for their electric motor.
- Mechanical Tools sessions: Additional workshop safety topics and mechanical prototyping methods are presented in extended (1/2-day) sessions at the Newmarket Student Workshop. Students then construct, troubleshoot, and test their motors.
- Mill/Weld/Turn sessions: Introductions to professional machine shop tools (metal milling, welding, and metal turning) are delivered in three 1/2-day sessions at the Newmarket Student Workshop. Students learn basic machine operations while making precision metal parts of their game set.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Work safely and comfortably in a mechanical machine shop and with digital fabrication tools. (Capability 1.1 and 7.1)
- Understand the physical properties of typical engineering materials (aluminium, steel, PLA plastic, acrylic) and tools to work with them. (Capability 3.2)
- Appreciate the time, skill, and attention to detail required for effective construction and troubleshooting of a simple electromechanical system and precision metal parts. (Capability 7.1 and 8.2)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Project | 100% | Individual Coursework |
| 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||
| Project | ||||||||||
Completion of the course requires a running motor and active engagement in the Mill/Weld/Turn sessions; course staff closely support all students to complete their projects. There is no test or exam.
Workload Expectations
Students can expect 2 hours of online content and room inductions, 6 hours of Digital Tools sessions and project work on City campus, and 14 hours of Mechanical Tools sessions and project work on Newmarket campus to complete their motor. Mill/Weld/Turn sessions consist of an additional 10.5 hours (three 1/2-days) on the Newmarket campus.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
As a hands-on workshop practice course, attendance is required at scheduled sessions to complete components of the course. The course will not include live online events including group discussions or tutorials. There is no test or exam.
- An intro video, pre-induction material, and tool/space introductions will be available as recordings and slideshows on Canvas.
- Digital Tools sessions are booked into students' schedules via SSO and attended on City campus.
- A Mechanical Tools induction session is booked into students' schedules via SSO. Subsequent project work is done on a self-scheduled basis. All Mechanical Tools work is carried out in the Newmarket Student Workshop.
- Mill/Weld/Turn sessions are booked via Canvas and course staff after the student's motor is complete and signed off.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
An intro video, pre-induction material, and tool/space introductions are available as recordings and slideshows in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas.
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Health & Safety
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Feedback has indicated low engagement with particular parts of the project, frustration with others, and struggles with scheduling. The project for 2024 has been modified to allow more student design decisions in the laser cutting session, make instructions clearer in the more frustration-prone parts of motor assembly, and encourage better attendance at in-person sessions.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.